Wednesday, February 5, 2025
2/5/2025
ABSTRACT Project Title: Williamson Health and Wellness Center Congressionally Directed Spending Request – Equipment Only Project Applicant Name: Williamson Health and Wellness Center Address: 184 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 210, Williamson, WV 25661 Contact Name: Dr. Beckett, Executive Director Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax): 304-236-5902 E-Mail Address: cdbeckett.do@williamsonhealthwellness.com Web Site Address: www.williamsonhealthwellness.com Congressional districts within your service area: WV-003 Williamson Memorial Hospital, the only hospital in Mingo County, West Virginia, closed May 16, 2020 amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic while trying to return from bankruptcy. Williamson Health and Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, purchased the hospital in May 2020 and has been working diligently since to develop an innovative non-profit Rural Hospital / FQHC model that will serve as a national model for small towns trying to save their rural hospitals, secure funding, oversee capital renovations, and recruit new health care partners to the region. The hospital will re-open as Williamson Memorial, Inc., a non-profit acute care hospital in the fall 2022 that provides emergency services, laboratory, diagnostic radiology, in-patient health care, and out-patient surgery that will create over 60 new and retained jobs and generate 22,000 clinical care visits within the first year. WHWC is requesting $2 million in congressional directed funds as an equipment-only project to support a portion of the remaining $3.8 million needed to secure new equipment purchases for the hospital operations. These costs represent a fraction of the investment that WHWC has already made to purchase and renovate the hospital facility as well as private and federal investment for capital renovations, equipment purchases, long-term working capital, and start-up costs for both the hospital and various primary care services and spec ialty care that will be provided at the facility. The first year of hospital operations carries the greatest risk as the hospital must be able to cover operational costs until the number of patient visits generates enough revenue to meet the break-even point to cover expenses. The federal infusion of congressional directed funds will help assure that Mingo County residents have a local hospital they can count on, that will remain financially sustainable, and allow ready access to emergency department and acute care services into the future.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).